IU East introduces new faculty

Indiana University East has several new faculty members on staff this fall.

In October 2007, the university launched its largest national search for faculty to join the campus. As a result there are 11 new full-time faculty members that have joined IU East and who excel in teaching and scholarly activity. The additional faculty will support the campus’ mission as a comprehensive bachelor’s and master’s degree institution.

IU East is pleased to welcome its newest faculty listed below under the school in which they teach.

School of Humanities and Social SciencesJohn Baesler, future faculty fellow in history, is a doctoral candidate in U.S. history, cultural history and philosophy. His educational background includes the magister artium at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg in Germany. While there, he studied medieval and modern history and philosophy.

Mattie Gabston, assistant professor of psychology, received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Aging with an emphasis on cognition and memory in diverse adult populations from the University of California in Davis, Calif. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif. While at the University of California in Davis, Gabston was an instructor and was a research assistant and paid graduate researcher in the Cognition and Memory Lab. She was a research assistant with projects at Scripps College in Claremont, Calif.

Elliott McKinley, assistant professor of music, has composed music that has been performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. McKinley earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree in Composition from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Composition from the University of Minnesota.

Wazir Mohamed, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, received his M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He also attended the University of Guyana where he earned his Diploma in Public Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Prior to joining the faculty at IU East, Mohamed was an adjunct lecturer at Binghamton University.

Elvinet Wilson, assistant professor of communication, brings with her a diverse background in research and scholarly interests in intercultural communication, cultural studies and qualitative methodologies. Wilson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) in Daytona Beach, Fla. She has a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and her Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Arizona State University.

School of Education
Jay Barbre, assistant professor of education, is a graduate of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Education, a Graduate Certificate in International Studies, a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. While at Oklahoma State, Barbre served as a visiting assistant professor in the College of Education – School of Educational Studies.

School of Science and MathematicsHitesh Kathuria, assistant professor of chemistry, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India and his Master of Science degree in Biochemistry from Hamdad University also located in New Delhi. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Delhi South Campus. His research and laboratory instruction is in the area of neuronal connection specificity determination with Drosophila as the model system.

Kimberly Greer, assistant professor of biology, is focusing her research instruction in canine hereditary disease and aging and longevity. She will instruct students in the lab and classroom. Greer received her Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D. in genetics degrees from Texas A&M University, located in College Station, Texas.

School of Business and EconomicsMarsha Jance, assistant professor of accounting, completed her undergraduate studies at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. She earned her Master of Business Administration with a finance concentration and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems at the Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. She completed her Ph.D. in Management Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2008.

Huafan Ma, assistant professor of business administration, received his Ph.D. in management sciences and his master’s in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wis. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Wuhan University in China.